Recycling Old Hardware

[jdavis]

Some of you may know that Linux is great for recycling old hardware, several low-spec distro's exist that maximise the lifespan of your machine, to save throwing it on the scrap heap.

One of these is DamnSmallLinux:
http://www.damnsmalllinux.org/
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Damn_Small_Linux

DSL is a great example of an amazingly small (only 50MB) distro that provides all the major features found in other operating systems such as Firefox Web Browser, Email Client, Instant Messaging, FTP, Web Server, FTP Server, Text/Graphics Editors, Multimedia Players, and plenty more through software repositories.

Screenshot: http://tinyurl.com/3cshq9

It will run on pretty much any machine, and the minimum spec is a 486 processor and 16 MB of RAM. I have a 233Mhz/64MB RAM machine that hums away quite nicely with DSL as an occasional web/ftp server.

Jonathan

[monkey56657]

I setup ubuntu on a friends vps with 64MB ram. With GUI inc opera browser. Just about survives that.

DSL was not option for OS :(

[Lynx]

Xubuntu is far better for older systems.

[jdavis]

I have to admit I do love Xubuntu (and run it on my Asus EEE) but it does require at least 64MB ram, and it does struggle on that amount!

Fluxbuntu (http://www.fluxbuntu.org) (Ubuntu + Fluxbox) is also one to look into if you like lightweight systems.

[EnglishRob]

I recently went down the Debian + XFCE route for a friend who had two older P3 laptops, I'm starting to wish I hadn't as they ended up breaking them within a day.

No doubt when they come back to me to be fixed, I think I might have a look at the Fluxbuntu or Xubuntu options. I did try DSL but I found it to be a bit too limited for them.

In fact IIRC, it didn't boot on one of their machines.

I do have a DSL CD in my CD case ready for those occasions I need to fix an older PC :-)

VectorLinux is also a good choice for older machines, I installed it on an old IBM laptop (P3 700, 256MB Ram) which ran a tad slow with Xubuntu, and it was really speedy with Vector Linux Lite (IIRC it runs LXDE).

Rob

[DoubleTop]

I'm a fan of the Ubuntu netbook edition, purely for the usability aspect for learners of the internet. It can run on dirt cheap hardware picked up or rejuvinated and provide people who wouldn't otherwise be on the net, a safe and usable online introduction.

I've now given a couple of machines I've taken as part-ex for new ones/jobs I've done to local charities as generic web access machines. I used to place win2000 on there as that was not hungry, but support has now dropped by MS.

DT.

[marsey99]

i have used umbuntu in the past (<< linux novice me) and found it great, even had my x using it and she is dumb so.....anybody can use it.

[InvaderGIR]

I have to say, all that initial link is, is linux running fluxbox...nothins special really.

I have Slackware running Blackbox (smaller version of Fluxbox) and much prefer it to Windows7 and to any of the other window managers you can use.

If you want a small light OS then FreeBSD (unix), Slackware (Linux), Crunchbang (Linux) are all very good. You don't get all the crap that Ubuntu etc. come with. :cool:

Only issue with them though is they take a little configuring to get setup fully. Not a big deal at all if you have half a brain though.

[DoubleTop]

try the ubuntu netbook remix for a nice Windows/X feel, it'll boot into a live env from USB if your machine support it, unetbootin is my personal fave. I always carry a USB stick with that setup on, along with the standard AV tools. With the livecd, it's an easy thing to play with :D

DT.

[prsltd]

Slitaz is excellent for old hardware. http://www.slitaz.org/en/

Package manager is a bit slow, but apart from that its good. About 30Mb mem usage at full desktop. [lxpanel, openbox, pcmanfm, slim]

Opera is really good for low powered machines too, a lot quicker than firefox.

My desktop machines have a custom ubuntu 9.10 based install with openbox/lxpanel/pcmanfm and/or minimal gnome, with a mem usage of around 70Mb at full desktop. Going back to Windows really is quite frustrating when you notice how slow it is.

[Ads]

no one mentioned puppy...that runs from memory and is lightweight. windowing setup by default is pants but its quick

[davidF]

Thinking of setting up a dedicated web surfing using a linux OS running Firefox (safer for on line transactions and downloads) what's the easiest to set up on a workgroup network with NAS & shared printers?

[sibeer]

no one mentioned puppy...that runs from memory and is lightweight. windowing setup by default is pants but its quick

Puppy or Xubuntu all the way. If you have to go to Vector then the machine is really old.

[Superewza]

My vote's with Slitaz, i have to say. How they can have such a good OS (which in terms of interface can pretty much keep up with the big guns) into such a small footprint is masterful.

[Lorem-Ipsum]

I must say I'm an arch fan as its minimalist and you only install what you need.

Lubuntu (kinda new) may be quite a good lightweight contender but I haven't tried it yet.

[sibeer]

I must say I'm an arch fan as its minimalist and you only install what you need.

Lubuntu (kinda new) may be quite a good lightweight contender but I haven't tried it yet.

Will have to look into Lubuntu next time I am knocking out a basic Linux system.

[Superewza]

Lubuntu looks decent but since it uses Ubuntu as a base i'd question how good it is on seriously low end hardware. I'd much prefer either a Debian base or a specially designed one. This does look like a one to watch though, probably on the same level as Lubuntu:

http://peppermintos.com/